News & market updates

John Keells Holdings' auto arm (John Keells CG Automotive) and BYD have partnered with the Aradhana Group to open BYD's first integrated 3S showroom, service centre and spare-parts facility in Galle, scheduled for launch in Q1 2025. The facility will provide sales, after-sales service and technician training to support EV adoption on the South Coast.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed mixed with the ASPI up 0.07% to 12,727 and the S&P SL20 down 0.02% to 3,823. Top gainers included John Keells, Melstacorp, Dipped Products, Hemas and LOLC, while banking stocks fell (HNB, Sampath, DFCC, NDB down; Commercial Bank up) with a net foreign inflow of Rs45mn.

John Keells Logistics has gone live with SoftGallery's GalleryHR HR and payroll solution, which SoftGallery says has streamlined JKLL's HR processes and improved operational efficiency for the business.

Colombo market fell for a third day as ASPI lost 77 points to 12,719 on profit taking, with turnover up at Rs.3.2bn and net foreign inflow of Rs.200m (Rs.199.8m into JKH). Banking and capital goods led activity while several counters (COMB, MELS, DFCC, RICH, NDB) weighed on the index.

John Keells Holdings reported consumer foods EBITDAR up 30% to Rs 1.6bn in the September quarter, with supermarket same-store sales +14% and volume gains driven by deflation, lower raw material and electricity costs, and improved margins.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) returned to profit in the Sept quarter, reporting 1.36 billion rupees versus a 574 million rupee loss a year earlier (earnings 91 cents/share). Revenues rose 20% to 76.9 billion, aided by lower financial costs, a non-cash FX gain and stronger margins in shipping and consumer goods.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) reported Q2 FY2024/25 group EBITDA of Rs.8.09bn, down 4% YoY; excluding pre-opening costs for the Cinnamon Life hotel, EBITDA rose 8% to Rs.9.28bn. The 687-key Cinnamon Life opened on 15 Oct 2024, a rights issue raised Rs.24.04bn, and WCT-1 port works are progressing.

John Keells Holdings PLC (JKH) reported 2Q group revenue up 20% to Rs.76.96 billion and group PBT of Rs.2.27 billion, and declared a first interim dividend of 5 cents per share. Group EBITDA fell 4% due to substantial pre-opening costs for the Cinnamon Life hotel; excluding City of Dreams, 2Q EBITDA rose 8%.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed down: the ASPI fell 0.60% to 12,719 on turnover of Rs3.1 billion. John Keells contributed Rs1.2bn to turnover; most banks (HNB, COMB, SAMP, NDB, DFCC) were down while Dilmah Ceylon Tea, Co-operative Insurance, Singer and Vallibel One were among top gainers.

John Keells Holdings (JKH) is partnering with Salesforce to roll out AI-driven CRM, loyalty and automation solutions—including the new Agentforce platform—across JKH subsidiaries to enhance customer engagement and operational efficiency.

Colombo market closed in red with the ASPI down 59 points to 12,796 on turnover of Rs.2.38bn. Banking led turnover (60%) as HNB, Sampath, Pan Asia and Commercial Bank were key movers; John Keells and Digital Mobility Solutions declared interim dividends.

Dividend · Rs 0.05 · XD Nov 14, 2024

Dividend of LKR 0.05/share; XD 2024-11-14; record 2024-11-17; payable 2024-12-04; FY For the financial year 2024/2025

Sri Lanka hosted a national pavilion at the World Trade Expo 2024 in Mumbai to promote trade and tourism, where companies showcased value-added cinnamon, coconut, cocoa products, dehydrated fruits and Ceylon tea and established business contacts for future collaboration.

Cinnamon Grand Colombo hosted its annual Christmas cake mixing ceremony on 18 October, with Cinnamon Hotels & Resorts CEO Mikael Svensson and hotel management participating to mark the start of the festive season.

John Keells Properties has partnered with Standard Chartered Sri Lanka to offer attractive mortgage packages for buyers of VIMAN Ja-Ela, a 418-apartment development. VIMAN is a six-acre, largely green, energy-efficient project in Ja-Ela with 65% open space and solar-powered homes.

Sysco LABS partnered with John Keells Holdings and Brandix on the FastTrack Summer Internship Program 2024, offering a four-week internship giving undergraduates IT-focused hands-on experience. The program included mentorship and sessions on leadership, personal branding and technical development.

John Keells Group won the Standard Chartered Cup 2024, beating LOLC Finance PLC 2-0 in the final. The championship prize included an all-expenses-paid trip to Liverpool to watch a Premier League match at Anfield.

John Keells Holdings participated with Sysco LABS and Brandix in the FastTrack Summer Internship Program 2024, offering four-week internships that included IT-focused mentorship, leadership and technical development sessions for undergraduates.

ASPI rose 0.7% to 12,610 (a 32-month high) as turnover hit Rs.4.4bn, led by the banking sector which contributed 36% of turnover. HNB, Sampath, NDB, LOLC, Browns and MELS were top contributors while JKH fell modestly and foreigners were net sellers of Rs.12.2m.

Colombo Stock Exchange recorded Rs.4.7bn turnover as the S&P SL20 rose 1% and the ASPI gained 0.35%. HNB (Rs.1.39bn), Sampath (Rs.1bn) and JKH (Rs.442mn) led turnover; HNB and Sampath fell while Commercial Bank, John Keells, DFCC, CTC and Central Finance posted gains.

Colombo Stock Exchange ended the week in green: ASPI rose 0.35% to 12,517 and turnover was Rs4.7bn, with Sampath Bank and Hatton National Bank contributing over Rs1bn and Rs1.3bn respectively. Net foreign outflow was Rs186m and Lion Brewery announced a Rs17.3/share dividend.

CSE turnover rose to an eight-month high of Rs.4.8bn as ASPI gained 0.94% and the S&P SL20 gained 1.55%; heavy trading and price gains were led by John Keells, Hayleys, Sampath Bank, Hatton National Bank, Commercial Bank, Ceylon Tobacco and Resus Energy.

Colombo Stock Exchange closed up: ASPI +0.47% to 12,357 and S&P SL20 +0.95% to 3,663, with turnover Rs 2.3bn. Top turnover stocks included John Keells (JKH 203.00), Sampath (84.00), Commercial Bank (110.25), Hayleys (103.00) and Hemas (81.00); net foreign inflow was Rs 118m.

ASPI fell 9 points to 12,300 with turnover of Rs.19.3 billion; John Keells Holdings (JKH.N0000) led turnover (Rs.676m), had rights converted to ordinary shares and rose to Rs.199.

John Keells Foundation, the CSR arm of the John Keells Group (John Keells Holdings PLC), is partnering with NYU Abu Dhabi for the 32nd Gratiaen Prize, with Pulitzer Prize-winning Prof. Gregory Pardlo appointed to chair the prize jury.

SLITHM and SLCB Chairman Dheera Hettiarachchi criticised holding World Tourism Day 2024 nearly a month late and urged future celebrations be timely, more inclusive and held across different destinations rather than only in Colombo. He said future events should align with the government's people, planet and profit policy.

ASPI closed down 4 points at 12,309 while S&P SL20 rose 2 points, with turnover of Rs.1.5 billion and foreign investors net selling Rs.109.4 million. ACL, UAL and HELA were among gainers while CFIN, LMF, LIOC, HAYL, RCL and SPEN were notable losers; Capital Goods led turnover.

Share split · 1:10 · XD Nov 6, 2024

John Keells Group's John Keells CG Auto signed an MOU with Union Bank to provide Union Bank leasing for BYD electric vehicles, offering low monthly rentals and repayment terms of up to seven years with value-added benefits.

Elephant House and Keells Food Products, subsidiaries of John Keells Group, launched 'Elephant House Superheroes', a reality TV mentorship and competition to encourage Sri Lankan youth (aged 15–22) into farming, culinary arts and F&B entrepreneurship. The programme includes mentorship, hands-on learning and three competition pillars to address skills gaps and underrepresentation.